Catalytic apparatus



De@ 15, 1931. l. HECHENBLEIKNER ET AL CATALYTIC APPARATUS IFiled Feb. 9, 1929 TAD lNVENTOF-l llil: .n

T E m w l- .B ww v INGENUIN HECHENBLEIKNER l n u l f n f f i f.

'mi ranged betweeny incoming gas andthereacf rammed" Dec. 15, 1931 AUNITED srafrlszs PATENT OFFICE;

INGENI'IIN HECHENBLEIXNER AND NICoLaY TITLsTan, or CHAnLoTTE, NoaTII Cano- I LINA, AssIcNoRs, BY mzsNr. ASSIGNMENTS, To CHEMICAL CoNsTaUcTIoN Coaro- RATION, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE CATALYTIC arPaRaTUs Application led (February 9, 1929. Serial No. 338,888.

This invention relates to a converter systypes employed for oxidizing sul hur diox` ide in the contactsmethod' of ro ucing sulphuric acid, it is requisite to eep the temperatures under control not only in the cataly'st mass which is subjected to the fresh reaction gases, but also in the last Catal st la l ers or sections which are' required to e ect t e last few percent of reaction. `This is due to the fact that the catalytic reaction is relatively sensitive to temperature; and too hi h a temperature in the latter -portions of t e Ing temperatures will result in catalystmass or in the last catalyst layersv results in a reversible reaction or reversion of the gases .and .hence in an incomplete oxidation process. The efficiency of the converter system as a'whole will therefore be retarded by an' increaseof temperature above a certain optimum. Qn the Aother hand, decreas greatly retarding the velocity of the reactlonand in vrendermg necessary a lar r amount of contact substance or mass. n order to obtain maximum eiiiciency with minimum of con- 'tact substance, it is hence desirable to permit the reaction to take vplace ata higher temperature than the optimum for maximum conversion at the'start or initial sta es-of the l reaction and to materially diminis the temeratures at the end ofthe reaction process own to a point near theoptimum temperature for `maximum conversion. For accomplishing the regulation'or control of the tem eratures in auch,catalytic'z-re actions, it has y eretofore been su gested, as set forth in LettersPatent to Kmets'ch Nos.' 652,119 688,020` and. 823,472, 66 arrange the .the reaction heat isV removed lil-'ya current oflairor as passing outside of e pipes which carry tA e 'reaction mass,1heat.exchange or cooling of tliejcotact mass being also .ar-

catalgst mass in columns or pip'egsystemsin whic labout the provisionof a con tion mass. This type of construction, however, suii'ers the disadvanta that one can not completel control the last stages of the reaction satis actorily, for which reason the efficiency is not as high as desired or as may 53 be obtained. This is particularly true when it is desired to control the travel of the reac-Y tion gases in lar eunits.

To obviate this disadvanta it has also l been suggested, as setforth 1n the Letters 00 Patent to Jaeger No. 1,660,511 of Feb. 28, 1928, to subdivide the reaction process into a plurality of stages employin two or more separated converters arrangedg in series, the a ing differently contro ed or regulated, this so as to effect a greater eiiiciency in the completionof the exothermic reactions which multiplication of the converters. We have discovered that a very ecient heat exchange ,and an almost Complete temperature control may be obtained in one continuous operation emplo ing 'onl a sin le converter ap aratus. 75e have ound at by suitably heat exchange system in the converter, the same may be subdivided into two easil regulatable` sections, in one of Which'an 1ntensev cooling of the reaction mass may beeiected, this at the initial stages of the reaction process, and in another of which, a dimimshed` have further determined that in,l such a single unit converter, almost perfect control'orregu-'- lation of the temperatures under varying conditions may-be obtained byadj'usting the 'space relat1on between thetwo re `ons 'or Sections into which the converter ist usi-lub' during'the running operation of the converter for accomplisliin theseobjectsi Y To the accom' ishment. of the' .and such other o jects; sfwiuheminaftbr p esigning and constructing the ,temperatures of the se arated converters be- 35 take. place. For effecting' the desired control, therefore, this type of apparatus requires a 7" and moderate cooling ma be eiected,'this latter for the last stages o the reaction., We 55 ina verysimple way. The prime desideratum I' o kour presentinvention therefore centers 95 erter. apparatus pear, oui` invention relates .to the elements divided and that this may be accomplished and their relation one'to the other as hereinafter more particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of our invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view taken in cross-section of a converter system embodying the principles of our invention, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational view of a fragmentary section of a modification thereof.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and having reference first to Fig. 1 thereof, the converter system of our invention comprises a converter chamber generally designated as 10 having entrant and exit openings 11 and 12 respectively for the reaction gases, a plurality of receptacles or columns 13, 13 in said chamber, each column containing a catalyst mass 14 and a cooling apparatus generally designated as 15 for coni trolling the reaction temperatures developed by the reactions in said columns 13.

The cooling apparatus 15, in accordance with the principles of our invention, comprises means subdividing the free space in said converter chamber 10 into a path for the flow of the reaction gases from the entrant opening 11 to and about the columns 13 and then through said columns and the contact mass therein and to the exit opening 12, all as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the space about said columns being subdivided by this means to provide two regions, one region generally designated by the bracket A producing a high gas velocity about one section of said columns to e'ect an intense cooling of said section, and the other a region generally designated by the bracketed section B producing a very low gas velocity about another section of said column to effect a moderate and diminishing cooling of said other section.

In the lpreferred construction of the apparatus, t e columns 13 comprise tubes open at their o posite ends supported at one of their endslby the plate 16 aiiXed to the lower end of the chamber 10, below which plate there is preferably placed a screen 17 for supporting the contact mass 14. At 1 the screen the contact mass disposes itself in frusto-conical formation, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawin s, this arrangement making for a more uni orm discharge of the gases 'and affording an arrangement wherein the contact mass will be partially cooled from the screen 17, thereby removing the heat of reaction from the contact mass atthe exit.

The cooling system 15 is in the preferred construction provided by a second set of tubes 18, 18 open only at one of their ends and therefore forming bell-shaped structures,

which tubes are placed over the contact mass tubes 13 to envelop the same over the section A thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. For obtaining the desired opti-k `ing region A and the moderate cooling region B may be varied; and to accomplish l this the tubes 18 are attached to and hung from a screen 19 arranged at the entrant opening 11, which screen may be used for supporting a mass 20 for filtering theincoming gases, the .adjustment of said tube being effected by means of a rod 21 screw threaded at its top and suspending the tubes 18 and the screen 19 from a yoke 22 carrying a hand wheel 23 which is in threaded engagement with the upper end of the rod 21, the rotation of which hand wheel causes the ascending or descending movement of the tubes 18 as 'a unit. Where the means for adjusting the envelop tubes is arran ed outside of the converter as shown, the a justment, as will be obvious, may be made during running operation of ythe system. However, 1t will be understood that thetube adjustment may be otherwise arranged, as for example inside the converter, and the tubes set properlyfor anydesired capacity or predetermined conditions.

The functioning and the advantages of the converter of our invention will be apparent from a consideration of the gas flow produced and of the heat transmission and heat exchange conditions effected. The reaction gases enter the converter at the entrant opening 11, passing down through the filter mass 20 and then downwardly over the exterior walls of the envelop tubes 18 to the bottom of the converter, after which the gases move upwardly in the space between the contact mass tubes 13 and the envelop tubes 18, after which the gases move for reaction through ythe tubes or columns 13 and the contact mass 1 4 therein, all of the stages of the reaction taking place in said columns to produce the completely reacted gases which are withdrawn from the exit opening 12. The contact mass 14 with this arrangement receives a very intensive cooling in the section A of the contact mass tubes due to the high velocity of the gases flowing in the space between the contact mass tubes and the envelop tubes. In this section the main reaction takes place by liberationy of the largest degree of heat, the maximum heat liberation taking place at the tops of the tubes or columns 13 where the incoming gases heated by contact with the outside walls of the tubes 13 are also the hottest. As the gases pass downwardly through the contact mass tubes I ce V-We claim:

dead velocity space, and wherein only a small4 amount of heat is radiated from the tubes 13 to the surrounding gaseous atmosphere. vAs is known, the heat transmission between a heater wall and a surrounding gas increases according to the formula:

where v is the velocity of the gas in volume per unit time. It will therefore be understood that the higher the envelop tubes 18 are lifted, the less will bethe movement of the gas velocity inthe gas surrounding the bottom section of the tubes 13 (the region B), and hence the larger the moderate cooled part of the contact mass tubes. .The envelop tubes 18 forming in an entirety the cooling system 15 may therefore `be pre-adjustedto suit the desired capacity of the plant or the operating conditions thereof by fixing or regulating the high as velocity heat exchange area between 3D the tu es, and 'it will be further seen that by adjusting the cooling system an optimum control of temperature can readily be obtained under varying conditions of operation.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings we show a modied form of the invention in which parts similar tothe apparatus shown in IFig.. 1 are designated by similar and primed reference characters, and in which the contact mass tubes 13 are further protected by the enveloping tube structures 211,24 arranged on the bottom plate 16"; In this modified construction the gas moving in the region B is still further retarded, thereby giving a still more modcrate cooling at the last stages of reaction for obtaining maximum eiiciency.

It will be apparent that numerous changes may be made in theconstruction without departing from the principles of the invention described. It will be understood, for example, that the system will work equally well with a reverse arrangement wherein` the tubes are regulated from below, at which point the gases would enter. The system providedis applicable to all kinds of exothermic reactions and varying kinds of contact converting sulphur dioxideinto. sulphur trioXide.. It will bev understood, that various other modifications are contemplated by the invention as set forth' in the appended claims.

7 g 1. vA converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings for the reaction gases, a vcolumn in said chamber containing a catalyst mass, and a cooling ap- 4 substances and in particular to such .contact masses as platinum and vanadium utzllzed for paratus for controlling thereaction tem eratures developed in said column, said coo ing apparatus comprising means subdividing the space in said chamber into a path for the flow of the reaction gases from said entrant opening to and about said column and then through said column and to said exit opening, the space about said column being subdivided to provide two regions,one a region producing a high gas velocity about one section of said column to effect an intensel cooling' of said section `and the other a region producing a very low gas velocity about another section of said column to effect a diminished and moderate cooling of said other section,and means for adjusting the space relation between said two regions.

2. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and eXit openings for the v reaction gases, a column in said chamber containing a catalyst mass, and a cooling apparatus for controlling the reaction temperatures developed in said column, said cooling apparatus com rising anl envelop for one sect1on of said co umn subdividing the space in' said chamber about'said column into a path v for the flow of the reaction gases from 4said entrant opening to the space, surrounding said envelope, then to and about said column and then through said column and to said exit opening, said envelop dividing the space a out said column into two regions, one a rel gion producing a high 'gas velocity about said one section of said column to effect an intense cooling of said section and the other a region producing a very low gas velocity about another section of said column to effect a diminished and moderate cooling of said other section.

3. The combination of claim 2 inwhich the envelop is adjustable to vary the relation between saidtwo regions. l

4. A converter system comprising a cham-- ber having entrant and exitjopenings for the reaction gases, a column in (said chamber containing a catalyst mass and open at its opposite ends, and a cooling apparatus for controlling the reaction temperatures developed in said column, said coollng apparatus comprising a bell envelop arranged over said column and terminating intermediate the ends of said column, said envelop subdividing the space in said cli/amber into apath for the'flow. of the reaction gases fromsaid entrant opening to the space surrounding said envelope, then to and about said` column and thehthrough said column and to said exit opening, the space about said column being subdivlded by said. envelop intotwo regions,

r`one a region producing 'a highl gas velocity' about the enveloped section of said column to effect an intense cooling of said section and Ysaidv column to effect a ed and mod-y ei'ate cooling of said non-enveloped section.

5. The converter system of claim 4 including a plurality of columns, each provided with an envelo and means for simultaneously moving a p urality of envelops longitudinally of the columns.

6. In the converter system of claim 4, means for adjusting the position of the envelop relative y to the column to vary the relation between said two regions.

7. A converter system comprising a cham-v ber having entrant and exit openings for the How of the reaction gases, a tube in said chamber containing the contact mass and open at its opposite ends to the gas flow, al

second tube open only at one end to the as flow arranged over the contact mass tu e, and means for adjusting one of said tubes with respect to the other for regulating the high gas velocity heat exchange area between the tubes. 4

8. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings for the flow of the reaction gases, a tube in said .chamber containing the contact mass and.

open at its opposite ends to the gas flow, a second tube open only at one end to the gas low arranged over one end of the contact mass tube, and means for adjusting the second tube with respect to the contact mass tube for regulating the highl gas velocity heat eX- change area 'between the tubes.

9. ,A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings for the flow of the reaction gases, a tube in said chamber containing the contact mass and open at its opposite ends to the gas ow, a second tube open onl at one end to the gas flow arranged over t e contact mass tube, a screen attached to the second tube and arranged between the same and said entrant opening, a filter mass supported on said screen, and means for adjusting one of said tubes with respect to the other for regulating the high gas velocity heat exchange area be tween the tubes.

10. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings, a supporting plate in said chamber, a set of tubes supported at one of their ends by said plate, said tubes containing the Contact mass and each of said tubes being open at its opposite ends to the gas ow, a second set of tubes each open only at one end ofthe gas ow and each arranged over one of said contact mass tubes, and a screen below said plate sup orting the contact mass in said first set of tubes.

11. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings, a supporting plate in said chamber, aset of tubes sup orted at one of their ends by said plate, said) tubes containing the contact mass and each of said tubes being open at its opposite ends to the as How, a second set of tubes each open on y at one end of the gas nssaiee How and each arranged over one of said contact mass tubes, and means for adjusting the second set of tubes relatively to the first set of tubes.

l2. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings, a supporting plate in said chamber, a set of tubes supported at one of their ends by said plate, said tubes containing the contact mass and each of said tubes being open at its opposite ends to the gas flow, a second set of tubes each open only at one end of the gas flow and each arranged over one of said contact mass tubes, the said second set of tubes being adjustable, a screen below said plate supporting the contact mass in said first set of tubes, and a screen attached to said second set of tubes arranged between the same and said entrant o ening, the last mentioned screen holding a lter mass.

13. A converter system comprising a chamber having entrant and exit openings for the reaction gases, a column in said chamber containing a catalyst mass, and a cooling ap paratus for controlling the reaction temperatures developed in said column, said cooling apparatus comprising an envelop for one section of said column subdividing the space in said -chamber about said column into a path for the llow of the reaction gases from said .entrant opening to and about said column and then through said column and to said exit opening, said envelop dividing the space about said column into two regions, one a region producing a high gas velocity about said one section of said column to effect an intense cooling of said section and the other a region producing a very low as velocity about another section of said co umn to ei'- :lect a diminished and moderate cooling of said other section, and means for adjusting the said envelop to vary the relation between said two regions.

le. A converter system comprising a chainber having entrant and exit openings for the reaction gases, a plurality of columns in said chamber each containing a catalyst mass and open at its opposite ends, and a cooling apparatus for cooling the reaction temperatures developed in said columns, said cooling apparatus comprising a bell envelop for each of said columns, each envelop being arranged over its column and terminating intermediate the ends of its column, the said. envelope subdividing the space in said chamber into a path for the flow of the reaction gases from said entrant opening toy and about said columns and then through said columns and to said exit opening, the space about said columns being subdivided by said envelop into two regions, onea region producing a high lgas velocity about the enveloped section of said columns to effect an intense lcooling of said section, and the other a region producing a4 very low gas velocity aboutthe non-en- 'los lns

veloped section of said columns to eiect a. dimimshed and moderate coolin of said nonenveloped section, and means or simultaneously moving the plurality of envelopes 1ongitudinally of the columns.

Signed at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenbu'rg and State of North Carolina, this 1st day of Feb., A. D. 1929.

INGENUIN HECHENBLEIKNER. NICOLAY TITLESTAD. 

